Integrated biomolecule sensor, method and apparatus for fabricating the sensor, and method and apparatus for detecting biomolecules using the sensor

ABSTRACT

An integrated biomolecule sensor comprising a plurality of optical fibers whose proximal ends are held together with the end-faces arranged substantially in the same plane and oriented substantially in the same direction and which have probe polymers with different base sequences bound to the core end-face at their distal ends. The method and apparatus for fabricating the integrated biomolecule sensor, and the method and apparatus for detecting biomolecules using the integrated biomolecule sensor are also disclosed. Researchers can make their own sensors best suited for individual requirements, and detect the presence of target biomolecules quickly, without need of expensive equipment.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention belongs to the field of biomolecule detection technology that detects a target nucleic acid polymer by using a single-stranded nucleic acid polymer with the base sequence complementary to that of the target nucleic acid polymer to be detected as the probe, allowing a nucleic acid sample obtained from a living body to hybridize to the probe, and detecting the presence of the nucleic acid hybridized to the probe. More specifically, the present invention relates to an integrated biomolecule detection sensor of the bundle type with a plurality of optical fibers held together in an optical fiber bundle unit, the method and apparatus for fabricating the sensor, and the method and apparatus for detecting biomolecules using the sensor.

BACKGROUND

DNA microarrays (also referred to as DNA chips) are used as a powerful sensor for detecting biomolecules such as DNA or RNA in samples derived from living bodies. By using DNA microarrays, it is possible to carry out detection or sequencing which requires hundreds to tens of thousands of times of the detection or sequencing operations simultaneously at a time. DNA microarrays have hundreds to tens of thousands of detection points (spots) aligned in rows on a several square centimeters to ten and several square centimeters support made of a glass slide or silicon chip. At each detection point, a single-stranded nucleic acid polymer (gene fragment) with one known base sequence is attached to the support. In other words, DNA microarray is a miniature array of a large number of probe polymers with different base sequences. By applying an aqueous solution of a nucleic acid sample labeled with a fluorophore to such a DNA microarray, only nucleic acid polymers with complementary base sequence hybridize to probes. The DNA microarray is then washed, and only the target nucleic acid polymers hybridized to the probes remain on the DNA microarray. By illuminating with excitation light, fluorescence light is emitted from the fluorophore in the target nucleic acid polymers remaining on the DNA microarray. It can be determined whether there are target nucleic acid polymers present in the nucleic acid sample by detecting the fluorescence light.

DNA microarrays can be divided roughly into the two types according to the fabrication methods: photolithography type and spotting type.

The photolithography-type DNA microarrays are made by synthesizing a large number of DNA (oligonucleotides) with desired different base sequences on a support (chip or sheet) by the photolithography technology used in the fabrication of semiconductor integrated circuits. DNA microarrays with high-density DNA detection points are already put to practical use (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,744,305 and 5,445,934).

On the other hand, the spotting-type microarrays are made by placing drops containing DNA prepared beforehand one by one on a solid support (U.S. Pat. No. 5,807,522).

The two types of DNA microarrays described above have the following different features.

The photolithography-type DNA microarrays have the advantage of a high measurement sensitivity and its assured reproducibility and being usable for the SNP (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism) analysis because DNA detection points can be made very small and DNA can be grown uniformly. For the fabrication of the photolithography-type of DNA microarrays, an expensive semiconductor manufacturing equipment (“stepper”) that costs several million dollars is needed. In addition, the labor and cost for preparing a large number of photomasks increases with the increase of the number of DNA synthesized. The photolithography-type DNA microarrays is therefore very expensive and used only by some research laboratories that have ample research funds as those of pharmaceutical companies at the present time. It is also practically impossible at present to fabricate the photolithography-type DNA microarrays one by one according to the requirements of individual researchers.

The spotting-type microarrays is fabricated by placing drops containing DNA probes on a solid support and drying up, and hence there is inherently a limit to the reduction of the size of DNA detection points. Further, the density and uniformity of the DNA probes attached to the support are not assured so much as they are for the photolithography-type DNA microarrays. This is one of the fundamental factors that prevent the standardization of the spotting-type microarrays. For the fabrication of the spotting-type of DNA microarrays, an expensive, large-scale equipment that costs several tens of millions of dollars is also needed, though not expensive as the equipment for the photolithography-type of DNA microarrays.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention was made under the above described situations. The object of the present invention is therefore to provide an integrated biomolecule sensor and the method and apparatus for fabricating the integrated biomolecule sensor which make it possible for researchers and other people to make their own integrated biomolecule sensors according to individual requirements without need of expensive equipment. This object is achieved by using a plurality of optical fibers held together instead of a solid support for the medium to which probe polymers are immobilized.

As the result, the present invention provides an integrated biomolecule sensor, method and apparatus for fabricating the biomolecule sensor, and method and apparatus for detecting biomolecules using the biomolecule sensor as follows:

1. An integrated biomolecule sensor comprising a plurality of optical fibers whose proximal ends are held together with the end-faces arranged substantially in the same plane and oriented substantially in the same direction and which have probe polymers with different base sequences bound to the core end-face at their distal ends.

2. A method of fabricating the integrated biomolecule sensor, comprising the following steps: forming an optical fiber bundle unit by holding the proximal ends of a plurality of optical fibers together with the end-faces arranged substantially in the same plane and oriented substantially in the same direction; and immersing the distal ends of the optical fibers of the optical fiber bundle unit separately in solutions containing probe polymers with different base sequences to let the probe polymer in each solution bind to the core end-face at the distal end of the optical fiber put therein.

3. A method of fabricating the integrated biomolecule sensor, comprising the following steps: forming a number of partial optical fiber bundle units by holding the proximal ends of a plurality of optical fibers together with the end-faces arranged substantially in the same plane and oriented substantially in the same direction; immersing the distal ends of the optical fibers of each of the partial optical fiber bundle units separately in solutions containing probe polymers with different base sequences to let the probe polymer in each solution bind to the core end-face at the distal end of the optical fiber put therein; and joining the partial optical fiber bundle units together into a complete optical fiber bundle unit.

4. The above fabrication method 2 or 3, wherein a linker is bound to the core end-face at the distal end of each optical fiber beforehand and the probe polymers are modified so as to be reactive to bind to the linker.

5. A kit used for fabricating the integrated biomolecule sensor according to the above fabrication method 2 or 3 comprising; a plate with wells for holding solutions containing probe polymers with different base sequences; and an auxiliary plate having holes so arranged in alignment with the wells of the plate as to make it easy to insert the distal ends of individual optical fibers of the optical fiber bundle unit or partial optical fiber bundle units separately into the corresponding different wells of the plate.

6. A method of fabricating the integrated biomolecule sensor, comprising the following steps: forming an optical fiber bundle unit by holding the proximal ends of a plurality of optical fibers together with the end-faces arranged substantially in the same plane and oriented substantially in the same direction; holding the distal ends of the optical fibers of the optical fiber bundle unit in a synthesis vessel; and synthesizing a probe polymer with a desired base sequence on the core end-face at the distal end of each optical fiber by selectively introducing laser light into the optical fibers and supplying solutions of material bases with the photosensitive protecting group bound thereto beforehand into the synthesis vessel in an appropriate order.

7. An apparatus for fabricating the integrated biomolecule sensor, comprising: a synthesis vessel with a valved drain into which solutions of material bases used for synthesizing probe polymers are supplied; mount for supporting the optical fiber bundle unit with the distal ends of the optical fibers kept in the synthesis vessel; synthesis solution supply system for supplying solutions need for the synthesis of probe polymers including solutions of material bases with a photosensitive protecting group bound beforehand into the synthesis vessel; protecting group-dissociating optical system for introducing laser light in the range of wavelengths that can photodissociate the photosensitive protection group from the probe polymers being synthesized into selected one of the optical fibers from the proximal end; moving mechanism for moving said mount for positioning in relation to said protecting group-dissociating optical system: and controller for controlling said synthesis vessel, synthesis solution supply system, protection group-dissociating optical system, and moving mechanism to synthesize a specified probe polymer on the core end-face at the distal end of each optical fiber.

8. A method of detecting biomolecules using the integrated biomolecule sensor, comprising: immersing the distal end of said optical fiber bundle unit in a solution of a nucleic acid sample directly or indirectly labeled with a fluorophore; introducing laser light for exciting fluorescence into selected one of the optical fibers of the optical fiber bundle unit from the proximal; and measuring the intensity of the fluorescence light emitted by the fluorophore in the target polymer hybridized to the probe on the core end-face at the distal end of each optical fiber.

9. A biomolecule detection apparatus using the integrated biomolecule sensor, comprising: a reaction vessel for holding the solution of a nucleic acid sample directly or indirectly labeled with a fluorophore; mount for supporting the optical fiber bundle unit with the distal ends of the optical fibers kept in the reaction vessel; fluorescence detection optical system for introducing laser light for exciting fluorescence into selected one of the optical fibers from the proximal end and measuring the intensity of the fluorescence light emitted by the fluorophore in the target polymer hybridized to the probe on the core end-face at the distal end of each optical fiber; moving mechanism for moving said mount for positioning in relation to the fluorescence detection optical system; and controller for controlling the fluorescence detection optical system and the moving mechanism to introduce laser light into selected one of the optical fibers of the DNA sensor, read in the measured intensity of the fluorescence, display the data on a monitor and/or store the data on a storage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1(a) is a perspective view of an integrated DNA sensor as an embodiment of the integrated biomolecule sensor of the present invention.

FIG. 1(b) is a plane view that shows the end-face structure of the optical fibers constituting the DNA sensor show in FIG. 1(a).

FIG. 2 shows a method of making the DNA sensor shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of the longitudinal sectional structure of each optical fiber of the DNA sensor shown in FIG. 1 and the DNA probe-binding structure for attaching the DNA probe to the core end-face at each optical fiber.

FIG. 3(a) shows an example which binds a biotinylated DNA probe.

FIG. 3(b) shows an example which binds an amino-linked DNA probe.

FIG. 3(c) shows an example which binds a thiol-linked DNA probe.

FIG. 4 shows another method of fabricating the DNA sensor shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 shows another method of fabricating the DNA sensor shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 shows an example of the cross-sectional structure of the retainer component.

FIG. 7 shows the cross-sectional structure of the retainer formed by 12 retainer components joined together.

FIG. 8 is a schematic representation of the process of another method of fabricating the DNA sensor of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of the apparatus for fabricating the DNA sensor of FIG. 1 using the method illustrated in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of the biomolecule detection apparatus according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described below in detail referring to the drawings.

First Method of Fabricating the DNA Sensor According to the Present Invention

FIG. 1(a) is a perspective view of an embodiment of the integrated DNA sensor according to the present invention. FIG. 1(b) shows the end-face structure of the optical fibers constituting the DNA sensor. The DNA sensor 1 has an optical fiber bundle unit 4 formed by holding the proximal ends 2 a of 96 same-sized optical fibers together by means of a retainer 3 with the end-faces 2 b of the proximal ends arranged substantially in the same plane and oriented substantially in the same direction in a matrix (8×12 rectangular array in this embodiment). DNA probes with different base sequences are bound to the end-face of the core 7 a at the distal ends 2 c of the individual optical fibers 2 of the optical fiber bundle unit 4.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view that illustrates an embodiment of the method of fabricating the DNA sensor 1 shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 2, designated by reference number 5 is a conventional 96-hole type titer plate having 96 deep wells 5 a formed in a matrix (8×12). Designated by reference number 6 is an auxiliary plate for making it easy to insert the optical fibers 2 of the optical fiber bundle unit 4 into their corresponding wells 5 a. The auxiliary plate 6 has 96 circular holes 6 a with a diameter smaller than the internal diameter of the wells 5 a and greater than the external diameter of the optical fibers 2 formed so that the holes 6 a are aligned coaxially with the corresponding wells 5 a. By passing each of the optical fibers 2 of the optical fiber bundle unit 4 through the corresponding hole 6 a of the auxiliary plate 6, the distal ends 2 c of the 96 optical fibers 2 of the optical fiber bundle unit 4 can be held apart from each other so that they are positioned just above their corresponding ones of the 96-wells 5 a of the titer plate 5.

To fabricate the DNA sensor 1, the 96 wells 5 a of the titer plate 5 are filled with solutions of different DNA probes. The optical fibers 2 of the optical fiber bundle unit 4 are passed through their corresponding holes 6 a of the auxiliary plate 6, and the distal ends 2 c of the optical fibers 2 are inserted into the wells 5 a of the titer plate 5 and put into the solutions. While the distal ends 2 c of the optical fibers 2 are held in the solutions, the DNA probe in each solution attaches to the end-face of the core 7 a of the distal end 2 c of the optical fiber 2 held in the solution. The optical fiber bundle unit 4 is then taken off of the titer plate 5, and the distal ends 2 c of the optical fibers 2 are dried. Thus made is the DNA sensor 1 with 96 DNA probes attached to the core end-face at the distal ends 2 c of the optical fibers 2 of the optical fiber bundle unit 4.

FIGS. 3(a), (b) and (c) are schematic diagrams that show the structure of each optical fiber 2 used for the optical fiber bundle unit 4 and the binding structures of a DNA probe to the end-face of the core.

The optical fiber 2 has the structure in which an inner core 7 a is covered with an outer cladding. Further, the outer cladding is covered with a hydrophobic coating 7 c. The hydrophobic coating 7 c is formed for preventing water from climbing the side surface of the fiber 2 in the hybridization process.

Since the core 7 a is made of silica glass, linkers for attaching various DNA probes can be formed to the end-face of the core 7 a by using a silane coupling agent. FIG. 3(a) shows an example which attaches a DNA probe to the end-face of an optical fiber by biotin-avidin coupling. In this example, biotin is attached to the end-face of the core 7 a and a DNA probe is biotinylated beforehand. The biotin bound to the end-face of the core 7 a and that in the DNA probe are linked via avidin. Similarly by forming an appropriate linker on the end-face of the core 7 a, it is possible to attach an aminated DNA probe as shown in FIG. 3(b) or a thiolated DNA probe as shown in FIG. 3(c).

FIG. 4 shows another method of fabricating the integrated DNA sensor shown in FIG. 1. In this method, 12 optical fiber bundle unit components (#1 to #12), each formed by holding the proximal ends 2 a of eight same-sized optical fibers (A to H) 2 together by means of a retainer component 8 with the end-faces 2 b aligned in line at the same intervals in the same plane and oriented in the same direction, are first prepared, instead of using an optical fiber bundle unit 4 with 96 optical fibers held together by means of a retainer 3 as used in the fabricating method shown in FIG. 2.

The distal ends 2 c of the optical fibers 2 of these 12 optical fiber bundle unit components 9 are inserted into the corresponding wells 5 a in the corresponding columns of the 96-well titer plate 5 and immersed in the solutions to let the DNA probe in each solution attach to the core end-face at the distal end 2 c in the solution, and then taken out of the wells. After the distal ends 2 c of the optical fibers are dried, the retainer components 8 of the 12 optical fiber bundle unit components 9 are put together and joined. Thus made is the DNA sensor 1.

Further, the probe-attaching operation may be performed by dipping the distal ends 2 c of the optical fibers 2 of the optical fiber bundle unit components 9 with the same unit component number for two or more, e.g. three, DNA sensors in the wells 5 a in one column of the 96-well titer plate 5 column by column, in the manner as shown in FIG. 5. After the probe-attaching operation, the 12 optical fiber bundle unit components 9 for each DNA sensor are collected and their retainer components 8 are joined together. It is therefore possible to make two or more DNA sensors 1 simultaneously. Use of an auxiliary plate 10 as shown in FIG. 5 makes easy the work of inserting a plurality of the distal ends 2 c of the optical fibers 2 into the same well 5 a of the titer plate 5.

The retainer components 8 are made of zirconia, silica glass, silicone or a plastic. They are joined together with an adhesive agent or any other means such as screws. Twelve retainer components 8 joined together makes the same retainer as the retainer 3 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in functions and structure. FIG. 6 shows an example of the cross-sectional structure of the retainer component 8, and FIG. 7 shows the cross-sectional structure of the retainer 3 formed by 12 retainer components 8 joined together. The dimensions in FIGS. 6 and 7 are shown by way of example, not for limiting the scope of the invention.

According to the method described above, one DNA probe is attached to the end-face of the core 7 a at the distal end 2 c of each optical fiber 2 by immersing the distal end 2 c of each optical fiber 2 in a solution containing one DNA probe. Thus it is made possible to attach any desired DNA probe uniformly to the end-face of the core 7 a at the distal end 2 c of each optical fiber 2, handling the optical fibers 2 to attach different DNA probes to completely separately. Therefore, by using this method, researchers can easily make integrated biomolecule detection sensors suited for their research purposes for themselves without need of a costly fabricating apparatus such as a spotting-type arrayer.

Further, in the above method, a DNA probe can be attached to the end-face of the core 7 a of each optical fiber 2 in a solution by the solid phase—bulk solution reaction. Therefore, the reproducibility of the reaction conditions improves in comparison with that of the conventional method of attaching DNA probes on a solid support (sheet) by the solid phase—spot solution (liquid drop) reaction. Accordingly, the DNA sensor 1 made by this method can be easily standardized.

Second Method of Fabricating the DNA Sensor of the Present Invention

FIG. 8 is a schematic representation of the process of another method of fabricating the DNA sensor 1 shown in FIG. 1. The configuration of the optical fiber bundle unit 4 in FIG. 8 is the same as that shown in FIG. 1, but it is diagrammatically shown in FIG. 8.

A photosensitive protecting group X is attached to the end-face of the core 7 a at the distal end of each optical fiber 2 of the optical fiber bundle unit 4 with an appropriate intermediate linker beforehand (Step S1).

The photosensitive protecting group X is released from the optical fibers 2 to which a first material base is to be bounded (the first and fourth optical fibers from the left in this example) by introducing laser light into those optical fibers from their proximal ends, putting the distal end of the optical fiber bundle unit 4 in an organic solvent or a low-reactivity gas such as argon, helium, or nitrogen (Step 2).

Next, the binding reactivity of a material base is activated by mixing solutions of a material base and an activator. The distal end of the optical fiber bundle unit 4 is immersed in the mixed solution, allowing the material base (T(thymine) in this example) to bind to the end of the molecules from which the photosensitive protecting group x has been removed (Step 3). The photosensitive protecting group X is bound to the material base beforehand.

When binding another material base to other optical fibers 2, laser light is introduced into the optical fibers (the second and fifth optical fibers from the left in this example) from the end-face at the proximal end 2 a to release the photosensitive protecting group X in the same manner as in step 2 (Step 4). Next, the distal end of the optical fiber bundle unit 4 is immersed in a solution containing the activated material base (A(adenine) in this example) to allow the material base bind to the end of the molecules from which the photosensitive protecting group X has been removed (Step 5).

By repeating the above described steps which introduce laser light into the optical fibers to which a material base is to be bound to release the photosensitive protecting group X and then let the material base bind to the ends of the molecules from which the photosensitive protecting group X has been removed, a DNA probe (oligonucleotide) with any desired base sequence can be synthesized (Step 6).

The photosensitive protecting group X bound to the ends of the synthesized DNA probes and other protecting groups in the probes such as protecting groups bound to the bases and phosphate groups are then removed with a deprotecting agent. Finally, the distal ends 2 c of the optical fibers are dried. Thus made is the DNA sensor 1.

Fabricating Apparatus

FIG. 9 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of the apparatus for fabricating the DNA sensor 1 using the method illustrated in FIG. 8.

The apparatus 10 comprises a synthesis vessel 11, mount 12 that holds the retainer 3 horizontal with the distal ends of the optical fibers of the optical fiber bundle unit 4 down keeping the distal ends in the synthesis vessel 11, protecting group-releasing optical system 13 that generates a laser light beam and focuses the laser light beam onto the end-face of the core 7 a of one optical fiber, synthesis solution supply system 14 that supplies solutions containing material bases and other substances in the synthesis vessel 11, moving mechanism (not shown) that moves the retainer 12 in the X and Y directions (horizontal direction), and personal computer (PC) 15 as the controller for controlling the entire fabricating apparatus 10.

The protecting group-releasing optical system 13 comprises a laser light source 13 a that generates laser light in the ultraviolet range and a lens 13 b that focuses the laser light from the laser light source 13 a onto the end-face of the core 7 a of one optical fiber 2.

The synthesis solution supply system 14 comprises four material base solution vessels 14A, 14T, 14G, and 14C that hold solutions containing A (adenine), T (thymine), G (guanine), and C (cytosine), respectively and other solution vessels including the oxydizing agent vessel 14 a, deprotecting agent vessel 14 b, washing solvent vessel 14 c, activator vessel 14 d, capping agent vessel 14 e, and solvent vessel 14 f, etc. Each solution vessel is connected to the synthesis vessel 11 through solution supply piping 16. The upper part of each solution vessel is connected to a supply source 18 of a compressed low-reactivity gas (argon in this embodiment) for forcing supply of the solutions, through a gas supply piping 17. The solution supply piping 16 is provided with a valve for each solution vessel. The solutions in the synthesis solution supply system 14 can be selectively supplied into the synthesis vessel 11 in necessary amounts by opening the valve for the solution vessel holding the solution and the valve in the gas supply piping 17.

The PC 15 has a base sequence synthesizing program installed. It controls the laser light source 13 a in the protecting group-releasing optical system 13, the valves in the synthesis solution supply system 14 to open or close them, the moving mechanism (not shown) for positioning a selected optical fiber at the position where the laser light is introduced into the optical fiber, and the valve 20 in the drain pipe 19 of the synthesis vessel 11 to open or close it, to synthesize a DNA probe with the specified base sequence on the end-face of the core 7 a at the distal end of each optical fiber 2 of the optical fiber bundle unit 4, by the fabricating method described above, according to the information input by the operator such as the address of each optical fiber of the optical fiber bundle unit (positional information) and the base sequence of the DNA probe to be formed for the optical fiber at each address.

To explain the operation of the apparatus more specifically,

(1) When letting a material base bind to the molecules on the end-faces of desired optical fibers 2, the synthesis vessel 11 is filled with the solvent or the gas (argon), laser light (ultraviolet light) is introduced into the optical fibers to release the photosensitive protecting group X, and the synthesis vessel 11 is washed with the washing solvent.

(2) The material base is activated with the activator and then filled into the synthesis vessel 11 to let the material base bind to the end of the linker or synthesized molecules from which the photosensitive protecting group X is released. Subsequently, the synthesis vessel 11 is washed with the washing solvent.

(3) The phosphoric acid is oxydized with the oxydizing agent. The synthesis vessel 11 is subsequently washed with the washing solvent.

(4) The capping agent is supplied into the synthesis vessel 11 to cap the unreacted end-face of the fibers. After the capping is completed, the synthesis vessel 11 is washed with the washing solvent.

The operation of steps (1) to (4) above constitute the synthesizing cycle for adding one base. This synthesizing cycle is repeated until all DNA probes with desired base sequences are synthesized. After all DNA probes are synthesized, the deprotecting agent is supplied into the synthesis vessel 11 to release the photosensitive protecting group X bound to the end of the DNA probes and the protecting groups X bound to the bases and phosphate groups in the DNA probes.

Finally, the optical fiber bundle unit 4 is taken down from the mount 12 and dried. Thus made is the DNA sensor 1 that has 96 different DNA probes attached to the core end-face at the distal end 2 c of the 96 optical fibers 2.

By this fabricating method and apparatus, as described above, a DNA probe with any desired base sequence can be synthesized on the end-face of each optical fiber 2 by supplying solutions including those of material bases with a photosensitive protecting group X bound to them, oxydizing agent, deprotecting agent, washing solvent, activator, capping agent and solvent into the synthesis vessel 11 in an appropriate order, keeping the distal ends 2 c of the optical fibers 2 in the synthesis vessel 11 and introducing laser light into the optical fibers for which the next material base is supplied. Further, a large number of DNA probes with different base sequences can be synthesized efficiently and automatically by computer control using the technique of combinatorial chemistry. This fabricating method and apparatus therefore can be used for fabricating DNA sensors for SNP typing which needs a large number of DNA probes slightly different in their base sequences.

Method and Apparatus for Detecting Biomolecules

Next, the method and apparatus for detecting the target nucleic acid polymers in a nucleic acid sample using the DNA sensor 1 fabricated as described above are described below.

FIG. 10 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of the biomolecule detection apparatus according to the present invention.

The biomolecule detection apparatus 21 comprises a reaction vessel 22 for holding the solution of sample nucleic acids, mount 23 for supporting the retainer 3 of the DNA sensor 1 horizontally with the distal ends 2 c of the optical fibers down kept in the hybridizing vessel 22, fluorescence detection optical system 24 for introducing laser light for exciting fluorescence into one optical fiber 2 of the DNA sensor 1 from the proximal end 2 a selectively and detecting the fluorescence light coming back through the optical fiber 2, mount-moving mechanism (not shown) for moving the mount horizontally in the X and Y directions for positioning, and personal computer (PC) 25 as the controller for controlling the entire apparatus.

The fluorescence detection optical system 24 comprises a laser light source 24 a for generating laser light of a specific wavelength for exciting the fluorochrome labeled nucleic acid sample, lenses 24 b for focusing the laser light from the laser light source 24 a onto the end-face of the core 7 a of one optical fiber 2 of the DNA sensor 1 held by the mount 23, dichroic mirror 24 c for reflecting the fluorescence light coming back out of the optical fiber 2 at approximately right angles, lenses 24 d for focusing the light reflected from the dichroic mirror 24 c, filter 24 e for allowing only the wavelength of the fluorescence by the fluorochrome to pass, and photosensor 24 f for detecting the light passing through the filter 24 e. For the photosensor 24 f, a photomultiplier or CCD (Charge Coupled Device), for example, can be used.

The PC 25 has a detection program for detecting the target nucleic acid polymers in sample nucleic acid solutions using the DNA sensor 1 installed. The detection program controls the operation of the laser light source 24 a in the fluorescence detection optical system 24 and the position of the mount 12 in the X and Y directions by the moving mechanism not shown to introduce laser light into the optical fibers 2 one by one and read in the intensity of the fluorescence light from each optical fiber 2 detected by the photosensor 24.

To detect the target nucleic acid polymers in sample nucleic acids, the solution of the sample nucleic acids is put in the reaction vessel 22, the DNA sensor 1 is put on the mount 23, and the distal ends of the optical fibers 2 are immersed in the solution in the reaction vessel 22. This allows the target nucleic acids to hybridize to the DNA probe on the end-face of the core 7 a of the distal end of each optical fiber 2.

The detection program described above is then executed on the PC 25. The program introduces laser light into each optical fiber 2 of the DNA sensor 1 one by one, and the measurement of the intensity of the fluorescence light coming back through each optical fiber 2 is performed automatically. The results are displayed on the monitor and stored in the storage of the PC 25, and can be printed out. The presence of 96 nucleic acid polymers in the sample can be determined according to the results.

By this detecting method and apparatus, it is possible to perform fluorescence observations letting hybridization reaction of the DNA probes on the distal ends of the optical fibers and sample nucleic acid polymers occur with the distal ends of the optical fibers immersed in a sample nucleic acid solution. it is therefore made possible to speed up the hybridaization reaction and perform the fluorescence observations in real time.

Further, by this detection method and apparatus, detection of target nucleic acid polymers is performed by introducing laser light into the optical fibers 2 of the DNA sensor 1 one by one and measuring the fluorescence light coming back through each optical fiber. Therefore, an optical system with a fine spatial resolution, as needed when using conventional DNA microarrays made by arranging DNA detection points (spots) on supports such as glass plates or silicon chips, is not needed. The detection apparatus therefore can be simplified and made at a lower cost.

Further, the DNA sensor 1 used for the detection can be fabricated by immersing the distal ends 2 c of the optical fibers 2 of the optical fiber bundle unit 4 in the solutions of different DNA probes and thereby attaching the DNA probe in each solution to the end-face of the optical fiber 2 in the solution. No expensive fabricating apparatus is therefore not required, and researchers can easily make DNA sensors which best suit individual requirements.

After the DNA sensor 1 is used for the detection of target nucleic acids, the nucleic acids hybridized to the DNA probes can be released from the DNA probes by immersing the distal ends of the optical fibers in a nucleic acid-denaturing solution such as formaldehyde solution. The DNA sensor 1 therefore can be used repeatedly. Further, the DNA probes attached to the end-face of the optical fibers can also be released by immersing the distal ends of the optical fibers in an appropriate solution. In the case in which DNA probes are attached to the end-faces of the optical fibers by biotin-avidin coupling, for example, the DNA probes can be released by immersing the distal ends of the optical fibers in a guanidine hydrochloride solution, the optical fiber bundle unit 4 can also be used repeatedly.

The scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above.

Although a DNA sensor with DNA polymers bound to the end-face of the core 7 a of the optical fibers 2 as the probe polymers is shown as an embodiment of the integrated biomolecule sensor according to the present invention, sensors using RNA, PNA, protein as the probe polymers are also included in the integrated biomolecule sensor according to the present invention.

Further, although the integrated biomolecule sensors described above have an optical fiber bundle unit formed of 96 optical fibers held together, the number of the optical fibers for constituting the optical fiber bundle unit is not limited to 96. It is possible to put the integrated biomolecule sensor using an optical fiber bundle unit formed of thousands to tens of thousands of optical fibers into practice by increasing the integration degree of the optical fiber bundle unit.

The arrangement of the optical fibers in the optical fiber bundle unit is not limited to an 8×12 rectangular array as used in the integrated biomolecule sensors described above, but may be any other arrangement such as a circular arrangement. Therefore, the shape of the retainer is not limited to a rectangular parallelepiped, but may be a cylinder or any other shape.

The optical fiber bundle unit may also be held together by means of a retainer or retainers at any position(s) in addition to the proximal end portion.

Further, although the biomolecule detection apparatus described above has a configuration which measures light coming back through the optical fibers, it is also possible to use a transparent reaction vessel and measure the fluorescence light from the distal ends of the optical fibers through the wall of the reaction vessel.

As known from the above description, the present invention has the following merits:

The integrated biomolecule sensor of the present invention makes it possible for researchers to make their own sensors according to individual requirements without need of expensive equipment.

By the method, apparatus and kit for fabricating the integrated biomolecule sensor of the present invention, it is made possible for researchers to make their own sensors according to individual requirements without need of expensive equipment.

Further, by the biomolecule-detecting method and apparatus of the present invention, it is also made possible to detect target nucleic acid polymers in nucleic acid samples by a simpler and lower-cost apparatus than conventional apparatuses, using the integrated biomolecule sensor of the present invention. 

1. A method of fabricating an integrated biomolecule sensor that has probe polymers with different base sequences immobilized to end faces of distal ends of a plurality of optical fibers, comprising the following steps: forming an optical fiber bundle unit by holding proximal ends of the plurality of optical fibers together with end-faces of the proximal ends arranged substantially in a same plane and oriented substantially in a same direction; and immersing the distal ends of the plurality of optical fibers of the optical fiber bundle unit separately in solutions containing the probe polymers with different base sequences to let the probe polymers in the solutions bind to the end-faces of the distal ends of the optical fibers.
 2. A method of fabricating an integrated biomolecule sensor that has probe polymers with different base sequences immobilized to end faces of distal ends of optical fibers, comprising the following steps: forming two or more partial optical fiber bundle units by holding proximal ends of a plurality of optical fibers together with end-faces of the proximal ends arranged substantially in a same plane and oriented substantially in a same direction; immersing the distal ends of the plurality of optical fibers off each of the partial optical fiber bundle units separately in solutions containing the probe polymers with different base sequences to let the probe polymers in the solutions bind to the end-faces at the distal ends of the optical fibers; and joining the partial optical fiber bundle units into a complete optical fiber bundle unit.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein a linker is bound to the end-faces at the distal ends of optical fibers beforehand and the probe polymers are modified so that they can bind to the linker.
 4. A method of fabricating an integrated biomolecule sensor that has probe biomolecules with different base sequences immobilized to end faces of distal ends of a plurality of optical fibers, comprising the following steps: forming an optical fiber bundle unit by holding proximal ends of the plurality of optical fibers together with end-faces of the proximal ends arranged substantially in a same plane and oriented substantially in a same direction; holding the optical fiber bundle unit with the distal ends of the plurality of optical fibers in a synthesis vessel; and synthesizing a probe biomolecule with a desired base sequence on each of the end-faces at the distal ends of the plurality of optical fibers by selectively introducing laser light into the optical fibers from the proximal ends thereof and supplying solutions of material bases with a photosensitive protecting group bound thereto beforehand into the synthesis vessel.
 5. An apparatus for fabricating an integrated biomolecule sensor that has probe biomolecules with different base sequences immobilized to end-faces of distal ends of a plurality of optical fibers whose proximal ends are held together in an optical fiber bundle unit with end-faces of the proximal ends arranged substantially in a same plane and oriented substantially in a same direction, comprising: a synthesis vessel with a valved drain into which solutions of material bases used for synthesizing the probe biomolecules are supplied; a mount for supporting the optical fiber bundle unit with the distal ends of the plurality of optical fibers in the synthesis vessel; a synthesis solution supply system for supplying into the synthesis vessel the solutions of material bases for synthesizing the probe biomolecules, wherein the material bases include a photosensitive protecting group; a protecting group-dissociating optical system for introducing laser light in a range of wavelengths that can dissociate the photosensitive protecting group from the probe biomolecules being synthesized into selected one of the optical fibers from the proximal ends thereof; a moving mechanism for positioning said mount in relation to said protecting group-dissociating optical system; and a controller for controlling the synthesis vessel, the synthesis solution supply system, the protecting group-dissociating optical system, and the moving mechanism, to synthesize the probe biomolecules on the end-faces at the distal ends of the plurality of optical fibers.
 6. A biomolecule detection apparatus using an integrated biomolecule sensor that has probe polymers with different base sequences immobilized to end-faces of distal ends of a plurality of optical fibers whose proximal ends are held together in an optical fiber bundle unit with end-faces of the proximal ends arranged substantially in a same plane and oriented substantially in a same direction, comprising: a reaction vessel for holding a solution of a nucleic acid sample directly or indirectly labeled with a fluorophore; a mount for supporting the optical fiber bundle unit with the distal ends of the plurality of optical fibers in the reaction vessel; a fluorescence detection optical system for introducing laser light for exciting the fluorophore into selected one of the proximal ends of the plurality of optical fibers and measuring an intensity of the fluorescence emitted by the fluorophore in a target polymer hybridized to one of the probe polymers on the end-faces at the distal ends of the plurality of optical fiber; a moving mechanism for positioning said mount in relation to the fluorescence detection optical system; and a controller for controlling the fluorescence detection optical system and the moving mechanism to introduce laser light into the selected one of the plurality of optical fibers, read in the measured intensity of the fluorescence, display data on a monitor and/or store the data on a storage.
 7. The method of claim 2, a linker is bound to the end-faces at the distal ends of the plurality of optical fibers beforehand and the probe polymers are modified so that they can bind to the linker.
 8. An integrated biomolecule sensor having probe polymers with different base sequences immobilized to end-faces of distal ends of optical fibers, characterized by being made up of two or more partial optical fiber bundle units joined together, wherein each of the partial optical fiber bundle units has a plurality of optical fibers with their proximal ends held together such that end-faces of the proximal ends are arranged substantially in a same plane and oriented substantially in a same direction, and wherein the each of the partial optical fiber bundle units has probe polymers with different base sequences bound to the end-faces of the distal ends of the optical fibers. 